HEAVEN
THE FINAL HOME OF THE REDEEMED

• Is a Shout of Victory over man’s Final Enemy

• Is the singing of the “Hallelujah Chorus’ of Handel’s Messiah

• Is the singing of John Newton’s “Amazing Grace”

• Is the singing of Horatio G. Stafford’s “It is Well with my Soul”

• Is the joyous sound of hymns by the dozens that refer to our “Journey Home,” “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8).

 

          With holy respect, we will humbly examine a number of expressions related to the Christian’s victory over death – his “Journey Home.”  We will seek a glimpse of what God has planned for those who die “in the Lord.”

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1.  We will go from the trash-pile and chaos of this wicked world to be seated with Christ on the throne to rule the universe with Him (Rev. 22:35; 1 Cor. 15).

2. We will have His name written on our foreheads (a mark of ownership) (Rev. 22:4).

3. We will have our own name written on our foreheads (Rev. 3:12) (The Spirit seal).

4. We will find freedom from the curse of being separated from God (Rev. 22:3).

5. Death will be vanquished – “swallowed up in victory” (Rev. 22:4; 1 Cor. 15:50-57).

6. We will enjoy a place of ministry and service for God and for each other (Rev. 22:2).

7. We will receive the eternal blessings of life, satisfaction, peace, and holiness (Rev. 22:1).

8. We will have the life of God and life with God as a result of God sharing His splendor, majesty, joy, peace, and holiness (Jh. 17:20-26).

9. We will be made a “Pillar” in God’s House as an unshakeable, eternal, and secure place in His presence (Rev. 3:12).

10. God’s glory will illuminate Heaven and there will be no need of the sun or the moon (Rev. 21:22-24).

11. In the moment of our passing, God will give us the glory of eternity.  It will be like the “twinkling” of the eye (1 Cor. 15:52).

12. On passing away, we immediately will be “Face to Face with God” (2 Cor. 4:18; Rev. 22:3-4).

13. What a joy it will be to hear our Lord’s voice saying, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.  Enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matt. 25:23; Rev. 21:22-26).

14. What a day that will be when we receive the light of immortality, be carried to Heaven by the angels, be led through the wide-open pearly gates, and walk the streets that shine like gold and jasper (1 Cor. 15:50-58; Rev. 21:9-27; 22:1-5).

15. We will be made Joint-heirs or Co-owners with Christ.  “All things” that belong to God will be ours as an eternal heritage – His throne, His crown, His scepter, His palace, His treasures, and His holy garments (Jh. 17:20-26; Rom. 8:17; Heb 1:2; Rev. 21:6-7).

16. We shall be the citizens of the City of God, the New Jerusalem, the bliss of God where there is no dark, stormy river called death to cross, no gloomy valleys to tread, or mountains of evil to fear (Jh. 3:15-21; Heb. 11:10).

17. Death on earth will be our emancipation from this world as we hear a great voice from Heaven say, “My child, Come on Home!” (Rev. 11:12).

18. We shall be gloriously changed when we receive our resurrected body made in the perfect image of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:40-53; Phil. 3:20-21).

 

Being born of the first Adam, we bear the image of the earthly man. Being born of the second Adam (Jesus), we bear the image of the heavenly man. As the “born again” of God, we will receive a new resurrected body.In this “spiritual body” there will be:

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• No more sickness, aging, or death for the body of corruption will be replaced with incorruption (from evil and depravity to goodness and holiness)

• No more shame because of sin (the sign of “dishonor”)

• No more frailty in temptation (the sign of “weakness”)

• No more limits in the time/space sphere (as in the “natural” body)

 

This “spiritual” or “resurrected body” will be perfectly suited for life with God for all eternity.  Hallelujah! Amen and Amen!

 

          To meditate on the Vision of God in the meaning of death for Jesus and the Christian reveals our blessed hope in Christ – in “the now” and in “the forever.”  To fail to have this hope is “to be pitied more than all men” (1 Cor. 15:19). This “Blessed Hope” provides the treasures of our having:

• The privilege to reign with God from His throne (Rev. 20:4-6; 22:3,5).

• All our needs met by the River of Life and The Trees of Life (Rev. 21:6-7; 22:1-2).

• A new home which is beautiful, perfect, and wonderfully “prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Rev. 21:2). 

• A home of perfect health, harmony, security, serenity, joy, peace, holiness, and happiness where we will never be separated from the presence of God (Rev. 21 and 22).

• Heaven’s power to deny ourselves and to take up our Cross to:

  • Follow Christ.  This challenge demands obedience, service, and sacrifice (Matt. 10:37-38; Lk. 9:22-26).

• This way of life leads to a sense of fulfillment, satisfaction, significance, and the presence of God in our lives forever (Jh. 12:26; Heb. 13:5).

• Jesus’ promise to return and to take us home to be with Him, to see His glory, and for us to share in His glory (Jh. 17:22-26; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Jh. 3:1-3).

• The guarantee of victory over Satan, Hell, and the grave through the Cross of Christ, and God’s gift of a resurrected body suitable for eternal life with God (Jh. 12:31-32; 1 Cor. 15:50-52; Rev. 20:4-15; 21:1-5; 22-26; 22:1-5).